Raindrops

Raindrops

When was the last time I felt that I was wet with sound of life? When was the last time the earth seemed a perfumed paradise? I guess it was the last monsoons.

Two days back the soft pelts of cool refreshing moisture hit me once again while I was returning after a tiring day’s work from my office. The sky seemed a hushed theatre attended by nothing but birdcalls. Suddenly the rains made entry like a king. Overjoyed I looked up at the sky and the soft pellets hit me, went pitter patter, all across the street, hydrating me deep within.It is again the month of wonderment and renewal.It is again the month of mangoes and it is again the magic month of “Monsoons”.
Its a wonderous feeling to experience nature’s loveplay between the lush land-scape and the moist sky. Its an indescribable feeling when the secret of the earth, rain and fragrance hits you. The ecstacy of the drenched earth cannot be kept a secret. It rises to the sky as pure musk. Fulfilled, the earth is once again ready to sprout leaf and spread a fecund green.The parched earth’s prayers and it’s giant sigh of longing for those heavenly drops is answered with torrents of downpour.Indeed it is the month of renewal and celebration.

Let me take you on a chilhood tour to my small ancestral village in Assam where the rains are notorious for causing havoc, bringing miseries, when the rivers swell up claiming human lives. But I have distinct memories of the monsoon rains pounding on my grandfather’s home, the corrugated iron roofs sounding like drums being beaten in ecstacy- dum, dum dum… and it was music all around.
Today, twenty years later in Mumbai, I open up my arms wide enough to welcome the rain god, urging him to quench me with as much blessings posssible. For the rains are not just rains for me. They open up the old, muddy, roads to my grandfather’s home, where I see my granny preparing the evening meal, and at the same time trying to fill all the earthen pots with rain water, while I sneak out slowly and get drenched, happily soiling my clothes with mud and playing on the small puddles of rain. And my mother yelling at me from inside the house, threatening me that this would be the last holiday to Assam if I do not come inside instantly. Seeing me defying my mother’s call, my siblings and cousins join me. The defiance of authority, the company of my siblings and cousins and on top of it the rain creating a muddy playground for us and small rivers to make sailboats, taking turns to make one, struggling to keep one’s sailboat floating and looking for slightest opportunity to drown the others turned me into a small maniac. Not to mention the thrashing I received once my mother caught hold of me. Words are not enough to describe those feelings, and now, when I look back I have nothing but gratitude for the “showers of blessings”.

Rains have been integral in shaping a home for me. They still hammer the corrugated iron roofs inside my heart, or at least they revive those feelings. They still make me remember my granny and grandpa and they still make me think of my siblings.

Kindergarten attacks in China- Why did the attackers target children?

The series of violent attacks on children in China left a total of 17 dead and more than 50 wounded.

In order to understand the reasons why the attack took place and why did the attackers choose children as their targets, we need to look at China’s social conditions in detail.

The latest of the attacks, where 7 school children perished in northern Shaanxi province was executed by Wu Huanming-believed to be mentally unsound and was showing signs depression and suicidal tendencies for some time.The other three attackers also showed signs of poor mental health, two committed suicide, including Wu after the attacks.

The way in which the Chinese society is ignoring these signs of depression in adults reflects huge-social inequalities in China’s fast changing society.

Though the exact causes of the attacks on children remain unclear, China cannot ignore the mental health need of its citizens.Some experts think that the attackers chose children as their targets, as they were easy targets, most vulnerable, and because they did not have any other outlet to direct their anger on the government.

China needs to seriously look at the emerging social problems like unemployment, displacement from land, widening gap between rich and poor and take adequate steps to offer counseling to those who show signs of instability.

However, the government is unable to detect signs of illness due to stigma attached to the condition of being “insane” or “lunatic”. Most of those suffering from mental illness do not seek medical help, for the fear of being labeled as “mad”-enduring their mental illness until they explode, resulting in such tragic consequences that China is witnessing of late.

A new party in Myanmar to fight the oppressive military regime

Myanmar is all poised to see the rise of a new party from the ashes of the disbanded National League for Democracy [NLD].The NLD whose trump card was Nobel Laureate, Aung Sung Suu Kyi: under her stewardship the NLD was seen to be playing a vital role in restoring democracy in Myanmar. The unnamed party will advance the two-decade campaign of ending the oppressive military rule.

The NLD, founded in 1988 after a popular uprising against the military regime that left thousands dead. Aung Sung Suu Kyi’s efforts made it a tug-of-war between the NLD and the Military Junta, finally being abolished by the junta ahead of elections.

With Aung Sung Suu Ki detained in her Lakeside home [detained for 14 years since the last two decade], and senior figures from the NLD trying to recreate the influence the party enjoyed earlier, analysts are skeptical about their ability to create a base in Myanmar and influence world opinion.

The military regime in Myanmar has been notorious for quashing any efforts of democracy in the country and only time will reveal if the enthusiasm of the leaders will bear results.

Now we have the cheapest phone in the world..Meet the Vodaphone 150 [VF150]

After the cheapest car in the world “Nano” launched by the TATA group, Indians have one more thing to cheer for. Vodaphone-Essar, a leading cellular company launched the cheapest phone in the world. The Vodaphone 150 [VF150] is indeed a milestone in crossing the price barrier and making it affordable to a most people.

Vodaphone has taken care to offer those features that are generally not seen in low-cost mobile phones in India. The features include mini USB connector, alarm clock, torch, calculator, currency converter, embedded games, SMS storage etc.

The mobile phone market in India is one of the most profitable.The number of mobile phone subscribers is expected to reach 600 million by 2011[according to a study by Centre for Telecom Research (CTR) in London]. Nearly 3 million new users of mobile phone enter the market every month.These new users make excellent targets for the low-end cellular phones that are recently released. With the rising income of around 300 million middle class Indians, means more purchasing power and the need for a cellular.It is a huge market and Vodaphone 150 now gets a share of the pie from the low-end segment.

Political crises between two Indian states- Prime Minister requested to intervene

This might be termed as a major political crisis for two north-eastern states of India [Manipur and Nagaland], anticipated to snowball into a major security issue for the Indian Government.

The NSCN-IM [National Socialist Council of Nagaland], a militant organization that has been fighting for sovereignty of Nagaland with the aim of forming a new country by bringing all the ethnic Naga tribes from the states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram under one common map of “Nagalim”[A future country dominated by “Nagas”; it also plans to include Naga-inhabited areas from Myanmar].

Mr Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN-IM, wants to visit his ancestral village in Ukhrul [a district that falls under the state of Manipur]. The Manipur government has imposed a blockade, preventing Mr Muivah to enter Manipur, fearing ethnic tensions in the state.

This is the first visit of Mr Muivah to his village after 40 years of exile from India. Presently, Mr Muivah is based in Amsterdam and has been negotiating with the Government of India. A truce is on between the Indian army and the separatist group and Mr Muivah’s visit to Nagaland preceded with meetings between him and the Government of India.

This has led to economic blockades between the two neighboring states, burning of trucks and public vehicles. Political leaders from Nagaland have requested the Prime Minister of India, Mr Manmohan Singh to intervene and diffuse the crises as it has the potential of turning into violent a confrontation between the people of the two states.

The Police have opened fire on some of the protesters who were supporting the visit of Mr Muivah to his village. The incident took place in Mao [in Manipur], a place bordering Kohima.Two women died and 50 others were injured when the police tried to disperse the mob. Sporadic violence have also been reported from other parts of the state. Due to the simmmering tension, Mr Muivah has posponed his visit to Ukhrul indefinitely.

The hilly areas of Manipur are dominated by Naga Tribes who see the visit of Mr Muivah a significant step in their dream of merging with “Greater Nagaland”, a demand that NSCN has made, to be granted within the limits of Indian Constitution. NSCN-IM have gone a step behind their earlier demand of “total sovereignty” and formation of the Naga country, “Nagalim”, which the Government of India has refused till date.

Honor Killing : Time to introspect

The murder of a 22-year old journalist in Delhi once again brings the topic of “honor killing” into focus. Nirupama Pathak was allegedly strangled by her family members as she was seeing a boy from a different caste.

The virus of honor killing is one of many issues that women in India face within the overarching problem of domestic violence. Issues like dowry deaths, witch hunting [public lynching of women: who are suspected to have evil powers] are some of the other issues that can be linked to “honor killing”.

While there are specific laws to deal with dowry deaths, ironically the menace of honor killing does not fall under any specific law; this heinous crime is ascribed as homicide or manslaughter. The problem is compounded by the fact that even members of the family are complicit in the crime [including the female members]. It becomes a herculean task to pinpoint the culprit and collection of evidence against the perpetrators becomes almost impossible as eyewitnesses never come out openly to report such incidents.

Honor killings are endemic to Indian villages [Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been notorious for this inhumanly crime] where these are socially sanctioned by caste panchayats and carried out by mobs with the full support of family members. These local panchayats are dominated by members of the same caste and their judgments carry more weight than legal courts. The concept of “jati”[caste] is so strong in these stretches of darkness: the feeling of kinship within a “jat”[same caste] defines all the considerations of “pollution and purity”[a woman becomes sullied when she mates with someone from the lower caste]. “Ijaat” [honor] of the family, village or reputation of one’s own profession usually define these complex dynamics.

Along with India, most honor killings occur in societies where the concept of women as a commodity predominates. The women in these societies do not have any say in any affairs; therefore, the men attain the sole right over their freedom, even the right to kill them. Reports show that honor killings are rampant in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, turkey, Brazil, Ecuador, Italy, Jordan and even in western countries [within the immigrant communities in UK]. Therefore the practice of honor killings is not specific to any particular region but goes across cultures and across regions.

Human rights watch defines “honor killings” as follows:
Honor crimes are acts of violence, usually murder, committed by male family members against female family members, who are held to have brought dishonor upon the family. A woman can be targeted by (individuals within) her family for a variety of reasons, including: refusing to enter into an arranged marriage being the victim of a sexual assault, seeking a divorce—even from an abusive husband—or (allegedly) committing adultery. The mere perception that a woman has behaved in a way that “dishonors” her family is enough to trigger an attack on her life.

While it may be presumed that women are the only victims of honor killings, even man are also killed [instances of caste issues in India]. In other related cases, homosexuality can also be perceived as grounds for honor killing. There has been lot of instances where homosexuals/gays have been murdered in the name of honor across all religions and societies.

The issue of honor killing is endemic to women and should be seen within the larger context of violence against women. Whether clad in a burka, or Saree, or in jeans or T-shirt, women have always been susceptible to violence: from the shanties of Mumbai to the mega polis of New York, the problem is a perpetual reality.

We cannot let such bigoted beliefs hold sway over rational outlook towards life. It’s time we give women the place they deserve and equal opportunities with regards to people they want to share the rest of their lives. Marriage is a personal choice and a progressive society must learn to respect the choice of people, especially women; it’s a proven fact-when societies start treating women shabbily, it’s time for the downfall. The choice is ours, let us accept the winds of change and opt for a healthy co-existence.

Sallu bhai~Katrina magic: a post-mortem

She has the hottest body with the cutest face and he has the attitude of a prince. If Kat baby makes one melt with her million dollar smile, Sallu bhai’s endearing looks can turn any damsel into stone.Together, they sizzle, they make news and they are a “dashing pair” for fans of Bollywood. Sadly, speculations are rife that all is not well between the most happening pair from the world of glitz and glamour.

Notwithstanding the love they profess for each other, yet we never know the time when they will have a home with picket fences. In between love and success, lies a chasm of “understanding” and “maturity”, that both of them need to cross before they take the final plunge.

Salman’s tryst with successes in films might be determined by box office hits, his resumé in cupid’s database is corrupt… “over-possesiveness” is the bug.. and when the victims have been divas like Aishwarya, the enormity of this “tragic flaw” does not augur well for Salman bhai. It may be a matter of time when Katrina decides to call it a day.

Her career in Bollywood might have propelled to stardom due to Salman , it is equally true that this diva has made a niche for herself; her chemistry with the other trailblazers like Akshay, and Ranbir sets the screen on fire. She has a lot of people to thank for her soaring career.

As both of them dance to the tunes of success and failure;the Box-office defining their destiny, as media speculates on the status of their relationship and shutter bugs turn their private lives into gossips for “junk consumption” by the gentry…I do hope that this “cute pair” fight the odds and manage to swim ashore… we would love to see them growing old with each other.

Road to Sangam: A review

Bollywood has once again resurrected Gandhi, although for serious reasons. The issues are perennial, a partition that reminds us of gory deaths that reeked of blood and mayhem; the scars of which are yet to heal on both sides.Gandhi once again becomes relevant in today’s India due to the trend of rising right-wing ideology among the Hindus, and a ghettoized/insular Muslim community that finds itself in the cusp of displaying/flaunting “nationalism” to the majority, at the same time struggling to stay aligned to the Maulvi’s diktat, where affinity to religion and Qom [community] is greater than love for the country.

The story revolves on a simple plot. The forgotten ashes of Gandhi [that remained unattended inside a bank vault, needs immersion in the “Sangam”- the confluence of the three holiest rivers in India]. Hasmat Ali [Paresh Rawal], is a mechanic who has been entrusted with the task of repairing a vintage Ford engine, meant to carry the ashes of Gandhi to the Sangam. Hasmat Ali takes upon this task without being aware of the historical significance of the Ford engine and its association with  Gandhi’s ashes. A bomb blast in Allahabad throws the needle of suspicion on the Muslim community, consequently leading to the arrest and detention of innocent youths from Hasmat’s hamlet. This leads to protest from the community and all the Muslims are asked by their leader [Om Puri] to close down business establishments and boycott government offices.

On the course of being interviewed by a television channel, Hasmat learns the historical significance of the Ford engine stranded in his workshop. Hasmat’s faces enormous moral scruples; a dichotomy between his duty towards his nation and appeasement of his community ”. Should he follow the “fatwas” from the mosque and appease his Qom and religion or should he follow his conscience; that urges him to complete the task as it his duty to pay respects to Gandhi. He is torn apart between his own interpretations of Islam and that of his community. 

What follows are strings of a monologues/dialogues by Hasmat with himself and his community. The film has beautifully managed to play the feelings of pain and frustration felt by Hasmat, at odds against his community that does not understand the significance of nationalism. The camera lens have beautifully focused on the claustrophobic ghettos, dominated by radical beliefs, where things can be politicized within seconds and every minute issue can be given a religious color.

Does Hasmat manage to finish his work, does his community ostracize him for disobeying the “farman” from the mosque where everything uttered through the mouth of the maulvi is the word of “Allah”. Watch Road to Sangam to experience the wonderful message of “Indianness”, displaying the “Sangam” as not only the confluence of rivers, but the confluence of all religions in India.

The weighty issue of nationalism has been dealt in a straight-forward and honest manner. For the first time we have Gandhi pitted against the aspirations of the Muslim community. The film has clearly managed to highlight the failure of the state in helping these insular, ghettoized communities come out from the clutches of “fundamental, religious tenets” and embrace the light of nationalism. The film has also shown the forgotten ideals of Gandhi [relegated to vaults and garages, by Muslims and Hindus alike].  Hasmat Ali, in this context becomes the “sane voice” enunciating the “Preamble” of our Constitution that does not at all feel like a lecture delivered from a podium. Its pierces our hearts, for the story has been told with honest intentions.

Paresh Rawal has given the performance of his lifetime. Om Puri as Mohammed Ali Kasuri [a local leader] is inimitable as ever, and Pawan Malhotra as Maulana Qureshi has delivered with intense finesse the role of a religious leader, enmeshed in dogmatic beliefs and defending them with élan.  In fact all the characters in the movie have done a stupendous job and it is difficult to say that the other characters are less convincing.

If you are an avid of lover of Sufi music, this film satisfies your appetite: rustic and spiritual that alleviates you to a higher realm. The following lines from a song captures the entire mood of the movie:

Woh subha gaya, shaam talak ghar nahin aya

Use bhula hua keh doon mere dil main nahin aya

Main jisko poojta  hoon woh mujko samaj kyon nahin aya?

Sajde main hoon umar se !!

Asar kyon nahin aya?

If he didn”t return by evening, 

It dint occur to me to call him forgotten

Why couldn’t I comprehend the one whom I worship

I have been praying  to him since a  life time

Why can’t I see the result?

Road to Sangam is not a movie you see every other day that reeks of jingoism without a clear degree of practicality. It is another mature film-making on the lines of  ‘Aamir’. If ‘Aamir’ projected  the true anti-thesis of a Jihadi, ‘Road to Sangam’  tries to distinguish between a fanatic’s adherence to dogmas and the need to dissociate religion from nationalism.. Watch Road to Sangam, if the Preamble of the Constitutions means anything to you. Watch it for the sheer purity and honesty, watch it for the stupendous performance of Paresh Rawal, who will always be remembered for this role.

Crossing the Chasm

Stephen Hawking’s comment that there might be extra-terrestrial beings out there in the unknown universe has once again opened the wide chasm between the known and unknown. He says that it may be catastrophic for humans if by chance we come in contact with aliens (they may be more advanced than us and might wipe the human race from Earth). As humans struggle to cross this “CHASM” and tread into the unknown, it is worth knowing how the known and the unknown create a balance in our own thought process and perpetuates the survival of human race.

Few months ago, I got this opportunity to listen to this beautiful lecture by a student from  a reputed University in US: His brief ramblings on the “known” and the “unknown” makes us realize that sometimes it is better to stay ignorant [as goes the adage "Ignorance is bliss"]

Here goes his speech:

A long time ago Socrates heard an oracle that he was the wisest of man and that he was incredulous. After a life time of testing he decided that he was, as a matter of fact, the wisest of man, since he at least knew the most important thing he could know, that he dint know anything at all. Of course, that was a long time ago and we have learned a lot since then.

The known world has been expanding at a dizzying pace and we are rightly proud of this. We know for example, that the earth isn’t the centre of universe. We know the speed of light. We know that gravity or at least something like it exists and that all living things, have at their core, the same basic molecule. We know how to use controlled explosions to propel ourselves at magnificent speed over vast distances. We know how to manipulate metal so that they can support the unimaginable weights of our buildings and bridges and thanks to our brilliant scientists, we know that by using binary language we can store a vast amount of information on magnetic devices.

But then there are things we don’t know. We don’t know whether we have souls. We don’t know where we came from.We don’t know where the universe comes from.We don’t know whether killing is necessary for life as some people tell us. We don’t know whether light is a particle or wave or something else entirely, We don’t know whether we are alone in the universe, whether there is a God or whether good wins over evil. We don’t know what separates matter that is sentient from matter that isn’t or what counts as objectivity.And maybe more significant of all we don’t know how big the unknown world is, that is, while we may feel like the known world is expanding, we do not  know whether we can meaningfully say that the unknown world is at all shrinking. That may sound depressing. Well ..I don’t know….It depends on how you look at it, I think.

These tremendous stretches of the unknown, if they are overvalued could invoke paralysis and fear and if they are undervalued could lead us to be impetuous , rash and hubristic, but somewhere between fear and hubris lies humility, compassion and hope. All these responses- hope, fear , hubris and humility, are after all, the after effects of the “Unknown“. And if I need to face fear in order to make hope possible, I will take that bargain any day. In short, “give me ignorance, please let me not know”.

So long: Maruti800-a glorious innings

It’s time for Maruti Suzuki to let business rule over sentiments. By the end of April,2010, the ubiquitous Maruti 800 goes into the hall of fame. In spite of the fact that almost after two and half decade, this car still rules the hearts of Indians, its reputation as a best-selling car remains unquestionable.

If the Germans romanced with their own WV Beetle, the French flirted with the Citroen, the Italians had their orgy with the Fiat and the English had their love affair with the Mini. The Indian’s realized their dream with Maruti800, and what an innings it has been for this car!!! it has contributed to every aspect of nation building and its reputation as a cute, trouble-free, affordable car is undisputed.

The stringent emission laws BS-IV has made the people’s  car ineligible for most of the cities in India . The manufacturing cost of a BS-IV compliant Maruti 800 won’t be economically viable to the customer,therefore the decision to phase out Maruti 800 from 13 cities.

As Maruti800 fades out from our memory, which I guess will be a long time before we stop to see one on the roads, it will continue to feed nostalgia. I am sure, just like me, every Indian has his or her own “maruti moments”.

Maruti 800 has touched so many aspects of our lives that it will be hard to chronicle all of them. Whether as the first car of a middle-aged executive, a dowry material to claim one’s standing in society, lots of babies came home in one, the same babies took their sweet-hearts out in one. In fact, for most of my generation, it was perhaps their first and the only car, their first taste of a modern, sleek automobile that replaced the archaic Ambassador and similar antique cars like Premier Padmini/Fiat and has remained middle-class India’s favorite automobile till date.

The reasons why Maruti800 entered the pulse of every Indian are numerous.The look of the car was outstanding, which made it a first choice for every aspiring indian out for a new automobile. In fact, Maruti 800 outshines all other models like Alto, Zen, Ritz etc in looks. Apart from that, every Indian discovered liberation and new driving pleasures in this automobile. Maruti 800 provided “hassle free” features on the roads-one could drive it easily, park it easily and even fill the tank easily without worrying for the home budget.

Sleek, sturdy, reliable and faithful are some of the frothy adjectives I can think of, to describe this petite automobile that has touched the hearts of each an every indian. It is really sad that our romance with this wonderful car ends this month. As India moves ahead and more sleeker, costlier automobiles make their presence felt in the Indian markets, the tirade of beautiful memories left by the effervescent Maruti 800 will be worth treasuring, not just to me, to almost every Indian who came across one in their lives.

A Kiss is worth a Thousand Words

It was a passionate kiss that transformed a “dirty ogre” into a handsome prince. It is a kiss that says a thousand words and gives you a vision of thousand sunsets..Something so simple as a kiss has started wars, broken hearts, ignited passion, communicated what million words could not.Such is the power of a kiss.

A kiss is actually meant to convey language of the heart:primarily love, warmth and passion, it can be equally true yet perplexing that a kiss can also be used to communicate hate. Perplexed!!..The most famous kiss in the history of humanity, the kiss of Judas planted on the cheeks of Jesus… minutes before he was traded to the Romans.. for “thirty pieces of silver”…it was a kiss of betrayal..that reeked of a malevolent heart, that showed how truly abhorrent Judas betrayal was. The power of a kiss.

Of course, there are souls on the other side of the camp who want to ascribe a kiss as a mundane and routine affair. For them the contention is “people kiss all the time! People kiss strangers! People kiss babies and grandmas!..What is so big a deal about a kiss?”

But the truth is: a kiss is a conduit of emotions between human beings.. We use them to greet our loved ones, to see them off, to woo them, to let them know we love them, to show gratitude. So often, we find our words failing us when it comes to those we love the most, but two lips together can never lie. And goodbye kisses!! they are the best!!…for the best kisses seem to last forever…. and yet never long.

We have often seen this little gesture performed on the movie screens, either as a simple sign of affection or a passionate prelude to further intimacy and that surely makes the people on the prime of youth dream of kisses.Everybody wants to be kissed. Those who have never been kissed dream of what it will be like.

For those guys who want to enjoy their first kiss, the key to a memorable kiss is your attitude. It is not some golden base to be raced to or some sort of check list on the way to getting a girl into bed. If done correctly, it will send the lady’s heart racing, making her breath uneven, begging for more..it can make all the difference between “take me now” and ‘get lost, you Jerk”.

In summation. a kiss is sublime..its importance can never be under-rated… movies and stories have always been narrated with the promise of a kiss in the end. A kiss is special and thrilling and sweet. For some its a bit scary. We forget so many things, but never our first kiss..wonderfully bitter-sweet and hauntingly memorable. Savour it, treasure it, keep it and make it a soft cushion for your old age.
— Happy Kissing—